“We knew it was going to be a tough game and it was,” Charleston coach B.J. Ross said. “Lamar is well-coached and they can match up with us athletically better than most people. We have a little more size and were able to get on the boards pretty good.”

Charleston took an early 22-10 lead at the end of the first quarter on the strength of a 14-2 run to close the quarter. But Lamar refused to go away. Charleston led 35-28 at the half and by just 51-44 early in the fourth.

“We got in a little bit of foul trouble and had to go to a zone,” Ross said. “Lamar was able to hit some 3-pointers on us but we were able to buy some time.”

But Charleston made a run. Ward and Smith both had big buckets and Storey drove inside for a three-point play.

Lamar (10-4, 6-1) was led by 15 points from Daniel McCarley, but only two of those came in the second half.

Lamar 44, Charleston 34

GIRLS — After three quarters of a defensive struggle, Lamar heated up in the fourth quarter by hitting three 3-pointers and then 10-of-11 from the free-throw line to put away Charleston in a battle for the top spot in the conference.

Lamar and Charleston came in to the game tied with Paris for top spot, but Lamar (13-2, 6-1) has beaten the other two teams in back-to-back games.

“We gave up 61 points in a loss to Danville last week and we had a few ‘defensive discussions’ practice,” Lamar coach Brandon Schluterman said. “We have come back in the last two games and played much better defensively against two good opponents. I told them to stay patient offensive and we’d get some shots to fall eventually.”

Kylee Thomas had 13 to lead a balanced Lady Warrior attack. Thomas scored nine in the fourth quarter.